PREBLE COUNTY — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around Preble County.
After the lights are strung and decorations hung, residents will have an opportunity to tour beautiful houses and historic buildings around the area during the Preble County Habitat for Humanity Eaton and Lewisburg Tour of Homes on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1-5 p.m.
The tour is sponsored by both Habitat for Humanity and the Village of Lewisburg TCN Community Association, with all proceeds benefiting both organizations.
It will also allow participants to learn the history of the homes and historic sites while also admiring their holiday decor. Everyone on the tour will be able to see both the interior and exterior of the homes and the Lewisburg depot.
“There are some great houses here in the county and I like to get different ideas. That’s why it drew an interest to me and why I like to do it,” said Jodi Gray, one of the coordinators of the event.
One stop in particular will be the North Water Street Guest House in Lewisburg. The home, built in the mid-1800s, used to serve as a wagon and carriage shop.
It has gone through numerous transformations over the years though, turning from a wagon shop into a machine shop, a meeting place for Girl Scouts, a ladder factory, and an apartment building.
It has since been restored into a welcoming home owned by Jacki and Jerry Gross and will serve as a must-see location on the tour. This house, along with all the others on the excursion, is rooted in a deep history of the area.
Another home is 715 N. Cherry Street, where owners Manfred and Jane Treitmaier own over 100 nativity sets, all on full display throughout every single room in the house.
Jane said it’s a large collection she’s accumulated over the years through after-Christmas sales, garage sales, and various other means.
In total, there will be five homes as well as the Lewisburg train depot for tour-goers to admire in all their holiday glory.
Pre-sale tickets for the event can be purchased for $8 at Habitat for Humanity located at 131 N. Barron Street in Eaton and Judy’s Hair Salon at 104 West Dayton Street in Lewisburg.
Tickets can also be purchased at The Toll Road House located at 100 E. Cumberland Street, in Lewisburg the day of the tour for $10.
Those interested may also just pick and choose which houses they want to visit, and tickets will be available for purchase at each individual house as well.
Other locations that will be part of the tour:
Jacki and Jerri Gross will host at the Toll Road House in Lewisburg
Chad and Tracy Woodworth will host as 411 N. Main Street in Lewisburg.
The Lewisburg Historical Society will host at the Train Depot in Lewisburg.
Eric and Tiffany Marit will host at 301 Mill Race Lane (or 110 Richmond Pike) in Eaton.
For more information contact Pam Baker at 937-962-2190 or Gray and the Habitat Restore Store at 937-472-0002.
